Epping Forest Pseudoscorpion Species List (Using the classification and nomenclature of Legg
and Jones, 1988)
CHTHONIIDAE
Chthonius ischnocheles (Hermann. 1804)
Chthonius tetrachelatus (Preyssler 1790)
Chthonius orthodactylus (Leach, 1817)
NEOBISIIDAE
Neobisium muscorum (Leach, 1817)
CHEIRIDIIAE
Cheiridium museorum (Leach. 1817)
CHERNETIDAE
Lamprochernes nodosus (Schrank. 1803)
Pselaphochernes dubius (O.P-Cambridge. 1892)
Chernes cimicoides (Fabricius. 1793)
References
Legg. G. and Jones. R. E. (1988) Pseudoscorpions. Synopses of the British Fauna (New Series), No, 40, E.J. Brill/Dr W. Backhuys, Avon,
Fishes
Alwyne Wheeler
Epping Forest Conservation Centre
The Forest as a Habitat for Fishes
According to Qvist (1958) there are 'upwards of 150 ponds, of various sizes, with a great diversity
of depth, soil and surrounding vegetation...' in Epping Forest (see also page 76). Without exception,
all the bodies of water are man-made. Many of the ponds were unintentional creations and owe their
existence to the extraction of gravel. Most of these pits are small and do not hold water throughout
the year, e.g. Wormleyton Pits, the area close to High Beach church and the pits near the Wake Arms
roundabout. Larger gravel workings, e.g. the Earls Path Pond, Blackweir Pond (Lost Pond) and the
Hollow Pond are permanent water bodies which contain a varied fish fauna. The Wake Valley,
Highams Park and Baldwins Ponds are examples of ponds created by the action of damming one or
other of the Forest brooks. Baldwins Pond also now serves as part of the storm water retention system
to prevent flooding in Loughton. Staples Road Pond, lower down the Loughton Brook, was recreated
to augment the water retention system. Some waters now within the Forest were created by the
landowners when they were private estates. The ponds in Knighton Wood are an example. The
Ornamental Water in Wanstead Park was created by diverting waters from the River Roding into an
artificially created lake. Originally the lake must have had much of its fish population derived from
the River Roding. Some ponds, such as Bell Common Pond (South) and the Horse Pond, Loughton,
were created specifically to water livestock.
Luftwaffe action created several small bomb-crater ponds during World War II including those on
Long Running and in Lords Bushes. The Heronry Pond in Wanstead Park received a direct hit in the
war and this damaged the concrete lining. Despite being repaired the pond has since been unable to
fully retain water levels throughout the year, to the detriment of its fish fauna.
A number of streams rise along the Forest ridge and flow through the Forest. Most of them are small
and only their headwaters lie within the Forest. Some are seasonal and dry up in summer. The
Loughton Brook, the headwaters of which lie on Rushey and Sunshine Plains, is an exception,
probably because it has two major ponds (the Wake Pond and Baldwins Pond) on its course and these
ensure a flow of water even in dry weather. It has some fish in it.
The major stream in Epping Forest is the River Ching. This small, meandering river rises on the
golf course and fields near Lippits Hill and flows through Bury Wood as the Cuckoo Brook; it receives
the overflow from Connaught Water and thence continues along the edge of Chingford Plain, along
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